Overview & Reviews

Scion is one of the youngest brands on the market -- which seems appropriate given that it's targeted at a very youthful demographic. Scion has quickly found a home in the hearts of buyers seeking its winning blend of value and style. The frosting on this cake is that Scion is part of the Toyota family, offering all the quality and reliability you'd expect from a marque with its parentage.

When Toyota realized early in the 21st century that it was losing market share in the younger demographic due to a stodgy image, the company took a chance and decided to spin off a new brand called Scion (its name means "descendant" or "heir to"). The first Scions, the xA and xB models, were introduced for the 2004 model year. These edgy little cruisers were first available only in the California market; after a staggered rollout, Scion vehicles became available nationwide.

Both the xA and xB were immediate hits, snapped up by young (or young at heart) buyers looking for high-quality, fun and affordable wheels. The boxy yet funky styling of the Scions provided a lot of passenger and cargo room for the cars' small footprints, making them ideal choices for campus and urban residents alike. They also coddled the youth market with flashy sound systems; Scion's stereos are among the best in the economy-car segment.

The following year, the Scion brood grew to include the tC. This compact but sporty coupe offered more performance relative to its older siblings, thanks largely to a more powerful engine. The xA has since been replaced by the xD, which carries on the quirky and customizable spirit of its predecessor. By 2012, Scion had introduced the tiny iQ city car and the sporty FR-S sport coupe.

In the interest of keeping things simple for buyers, Scions typically come in only one trim level. However, buyers have the option of customizing their rides with a host of dealership-provided accessories, such as a subwoofer, body kits and custom exhausts. Scion also offers no-haggle pricing wherein buyers pay the list (window sticker) price, thus streamlining the negotiation process.

So far, a simple and well-equipped model lineup, no-haggle pricing and a variety of dealer-added options have combined to make the Scion brand popular with American consumers. The economy car segment isn't typically the first place you'd look for stylish, fun-to-drive vehicles, but Scion has changed all that by offering cars rich with a seductive exuberance that belies their modest pricing.

User Reviews:

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  Good For the money - 2005 Scion TC
  By Peter - October 12 - 8:40 pm

  Im 17 years old and my mom just bought me this car. The car is very good in all of its aspects, it can go fast, beleive me, handles well and love the way you can modify it at the dealership. The car audio system is some what overrated because they are hyping it up because of its pioneer sound but the bass isnt realy there so dont expect the best sound in the world but it is good. The car suits me very well and have had no problems with it so i would recomend it for people.

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  Scion xA - 2006 Scion xA
  By Marbot - September 14 - 6:26 am

  The Scion xA is reliable, but has some disappointments. For instance, the pick-up is not that good, even for a small car, and the fuel efficiency isnt anywhere near what it is supposed to be. It only gets about 31 mpg highway and 28 mpg city (supposed to get 37 highway and 32 city) and this is without using the heat or air conditioning. Other than that it is cute, fun, and easy to drive. Its great for parallel parking and has great standard features for a low price.

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  Does the job - 2005 Scion xA
  By bblhed - September 14 - 3:03 am

  I bought this car to be a commuter car, driving 60 miles round trip is never fun! The mileage is great, and the car handles a bit better than expected for an econo-car. They probably could have put a little more paint on the car than they did but overall, it has held up well with the abuse of commuting. All options are "a la cart" so if you decide later that you want to add something, the dealer or you can do it, no problem. I got mine with some dealer goodies, then added some personal touches myself. I was even able to add a tow plate so I can tow the car with an RV and it only took 2 hours.

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  Good mileage with an xB - 2006 Scion XB
  By Rene - September 9 - 3:03 am

  Our experience with the xB has been pretty good to date. We average about 35 mpg with mostly highway driving. The ride on the interstate is a bit bumpy and noisy. Our Camry rides better on the interstate and is better for longer road trips. This vehicle is fine for everyday driving or for commuting to work. It fits well for tall drivers - my husband is over 6 and it fits him very comfortably. I wouldnt purchase this unless it has cruise control installed.

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  Traded in my Clunker! - 2009 Scion XD
  By Audrey in Oregon - September 6 - 5:33 am

  I just got my new XD with the "Cash for Clunkers" program. They gave me $4500 for my 16-year old minivan with 165,000 miles on it. Love it so far. So fun to drive! My dog (Lab) does miss all the room in her van, but the back seats can be easily laid flat, and shell have plenty of room in the new car.

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  Bazooka Problems - 2005 Scion TC
  By PhantomsSgt - September 5 - 10:00 am

  I like almost everything about the car minus the Bazooka speaker installed in the rear. Discovered a problem on one rainy Guam night. The spare tire and accessories are impossible to reach unless you disassemble the bazooka and remove it. Remove the speaker grill, take six screws out around the speaker, search for two bolts in the interior of the box and remove, disconnect the wiring harness. I reinstalled mine loose with a cargo strap over it. Ugly but effective. Duhhhh Bazooka, Quick Disconnects maybe?

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  Still love this car - 2005 Scion xA
  By janamg - August 30 - 6:16 pm

  I drive this car 70 miles round trip three times a week commuting to work. She has also taken me and one or two passengers on trips of up to 1000 miles a time or two. I average 36 MPG, but occasionally get over 40. There is nothing to dislike about "Jolene" She gets all scheduled maintenance and I have had absolutely no problems with her. Shes on the original battery and still starts right up unless I forget the headlights. Even then a jump and 5 minutes run time is enough to "rejuice" her. Shes small, so changing a flat is almost easy. Her pick up is sufficient and she has absolutely NO problems holding her own on the highway with the big boys. She does not act like a little car.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2005 Scion TC
  By Scot - August 21 - 9:10 am

  One of the happiest days for me was when I drove away with a new 05 Scion tC. Its an all around great car and when it comes to durability, the fact that its a Toyota speaks for itself. It has some pretty good power thanks to Toyotas modifying the Camry engine to boost the torque. The only complaint that I have are the following: the sunroof rattles (Toyota mechanics were baffled and couldnt fix it), it has loud engine noise, the seat material is cheap and uncomfortable, it has ultra-cheap side mirrors and sunroof cover, and finally... the paint and interior plastic scratches easily. Still, these were minor problems and for the money, you get all the goodies for the biggest bang for your buck!

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  Best Buy for the Buck! - 2005 Scion xA
  By Cuppett - August 15 - 1:30 am

  The purchase of our xA was for an extra vehicle for our use. It has proved to be a great purchase. Very reliable, great fuel economy, sufficient power, and much more fluff and safety options than comparable U.S. models. You cant go wrong with a Toyota product. Our love for the xA pushed our aging parents to buy an xB to replace their minivan. Although they lost space, they too are very please with the performance and handling of their xB. You simply cant get more bang for your buck!

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  Im Sold - 2004 Scion xA
  By REID - August 4 - 2:00 am

  I was shopping for a commuter car and was considering a Civic or Corrola and then I spotted an Xa. This interesting little car grabbed my attention immediately with its "love it" or "hate it" styling and I love it. Who would of thought you could build a reliable car with a certain cool factor for under $13,000. Well, I drove all 3 which had comparable drives but there was something that I admired about the Scion. Maybe it was how it stood out in a crowd of bland economy cars. Or perhaps, it was the build quality of a Toyota coupled with the 5 year 60k powertrain warranty (which will probably never be used)for the price of a Kia. Im sold.